Chinese musician Sa Dingding accepts a BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in London on April 10, 2008.(CRIENGLISH.com/Sina.com File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 5 -- There was a time when Western ears were only tuned to familiar forms of pop music. But a unique artist, not afraid to sing in a language she invented herself, has the West suddenly taking note of Chinese music.

    With a unique and ethereal voice, Chinese singer/songwriter Sa Dingding, whose real name is Zhou Peng, made the world sit up and pay attention in London recently when she won the prestigious BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in the Asia Pacific category.

    Her striking music combines typical rhythms of Tibet and Inner Mongolia with Western electronica. And with lyrics in Mandarin, Sanskrit, Tibetan and a unique language she created herself, Sa and her songs are like nothing else on the world music scene. A breath of fresh air, some might say.

    "It is the nationality and creativity of my music that has aroused the world's interest in Chinese music," Sa tells Shanghai Daily.

    "Globally speaking, music is a kind of cultural envoy. I hope people of the world can hear Chinese culture in my songs and feel the pulse of the Orient."

    To her, creativity is seldom immutable and frozen.

    "I sometimes sing with my self-created language. Sometimes it is like a soliloquy, driven by emotions. It is the most natural thing," Sa says. "Anyone can develop their own creativity and express themselves freely in this way."

    Emotions are carried not only in each of the different languages Sa uses, but also through her instruments. "Alive," her first international album, features zheng, a violin-like instrument, and matou qin, a typical Mongolian bowed instrument with two strings. Both instruments marry nicely with digital beats in her songs to create a charming Chinese touch.

    "I try to orientalize electronica in the album," Sa says. "Like the success of (Taiwan pop star) Jay Chou, who has successfully orientalized R&B, I pay detailed attention to this concept in making my music."

    Adding to her impressiveness is the fact that Sa is also a dancer and choreographer. Although untrained, her free-spirited and intoxicating dancing tends to make her singing even more memorable.

    "There have always been times when I can't help but dance while I am singing. I care about absolutely nothing in those moments," she says. "People are born with the ability to dance and sing. With a little imagination, even the fall of a leaf could lead to a nice dance or song. Truly, imagination makes us equal with each other."

    Her BBC award has attracted considerable foreign media attention with many requests for interviews. The most often asked question, she says, is what is going on in the current Chinese pop music industry.

    "What I feel concretely is that the world has a growing interest in Chinese music even if there is some misunderstanding about it," she says. "(But) I am glad our music is on the world stage. Every Chinese person has a responsibility to introduce our music and culture to the world."

    In the wake of her latest success, the 25-year-old singer's schedule is tight. She has planned a major appearance in North America to launch her album there on May 30 and July 30, she will perform at the televised Award Winners' Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

    Sa is determined to keep pushing Chinese music and culture to the world. "It is easy to lose yourself in a highly commercial society where people seek quick success and instant benefits. I never thought about becoming a world star," she says.

    "All I am doing is trying to be an exotic flower in the wonderful world of music, bringing enlightenment to people who are curious to explore China," she adds.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily/CRIENGLISH.com)